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Superfood of the Week: Lentils

Lentils, ladies. They don't get enough street cred. One cup of 'em cooked delivers 16 grams of appetite-curbing fiber and 18 grams of protein, plus adds up to a (measly) 220 calories with virtually no fat. Lentils also cook...

Lentils, ladies. They don't get enough street cred. One cup of 'em cooked delivers 16 grams of appetite-curbing fiber and 18 grams of protein, plus adds up to a (measly) 220 calories with virtually no fat. Lentils also cook up quicker than other legumes and easily absorb the flavors of other dishes including soups, veggie burgers, spicy curries and refreshing summer salads. Lentils come in a rainbow of colors, but I'm personally a big fan of the red ones since they cook in about 15 minutes flat -- no soaking necessary! Learn to love lentils with these tasty recipes.

Jalapeno Chickpea Lentil Burgers: These superfood-filled burgers are packed with nutritious goodies like lentils, chickpeas, carrots, peppers and oat bran. And these babies don't skimp on flavor, either: The best part of this dish is the sweet mango avocado pico that complements the other flavors and textures.

Red Lentil and Sweet Potato Hummus: Give your dip a serious flavor and protein boost by swapping out chickpeas for lentils. We love the vibrant color from the sweet potatoes, too.

Lentil Mushroom Meatballs: These savory and delicious meatless "meatballs" are packed with nutrition from the lentils, mushrooms and oats rolled up to make 'em. The Italian seasoning is so spot on that you'll swear you're eating meat. Plus, they're cooked in a mini muffin tin -- isn't that adorable?